“This article was inspired by a Georgia O’ Keeffe”
“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.” -Georgia O’Keeffe
I like this quote from Georgia O’Keeffe because it reminds me that we define our own success. If we as writers allow the world to define our success, then we allow the world to define who we are as artists. One thing I believe is that your life is your art so when you create your own idea of success, that’s you painting on your own canvas.
The second part of this quote is a little deeper. Making your unknown known is an undertaken. I often forget how much I didn’t know before I started writing. I do remember reading everything. I do remember how hard I was on myself. And to this day I know the complexities that come with deciding to be the kind of writer that’s called a novelist. I didn’t know when I started that’s what I wanted to be. I had to try it all. I didn’t know then, but I know now.
This can also be taken in a more psychological Jungian way. It reminds me of the idea of being your shadow to light. Diving into your subconscious and digging out all the little beliefs that molded you that were never true. Sometimes we hold onto beliefs because they kept us safe, some of it is social programing, and some of it is simply a misunderstanding. We as artists get to go headfirst with a flashlight and dig out all the juicy details of ourselves. It’s no easy task but the art is authentic because it’s a depiction of what makes you, you.
